A friend with cancer and no insurance

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Just thought I'd see if anyone has any suggestions for my friend, who's just be diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. She has no insurance and no money. I've been looking online, but there's not much to go on so far. Mostly support groups. What she really needs is practical, usefull advice on how to get treatment and/or coverage. She's already been denied Medicare and her doctor won't return her phone calls. We live in NYC, any locals with some ideas? Anything besides moving her to Thailand?

― King Kitty, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 18:35 (eighteen years ago)

maybe check with university hospitals that might have trials going on?

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 18:37 (eighteen years ago)

Move to Thaila... oh.

― Hello Sunshine, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

wow. what a terrible situation.

maybe this link will help: http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/

― lauren, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

― deeznuts, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 18:55 (eighteen years ago)

"for some reason i was under the impression hospitals or the state or whatever would actually foot the majority of the bill if needed"

As an ignorant Britisher I also thought this. Surely the US government don't just shrug their shoulders and say "Oh well, I guess you're dead then"?

― Hello Sunshine, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 18:59 (eighteen years ago)

They won't put you in jail for not paying your bills but it's not good to have thousands of dollars in debt hanging over you. With terminal illnesses it can be very hard to find doctors/hospitals willing to treat you when you're without means. This can cause problems when time is an issue. Good luck King Kitty.

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:02 (eighteen years ago)

No, but it sure makes it a lot harder to start a treatment or management regimen for whatever's wrong. If you flop into an emergency room on the verge of death, you'll get treated; the further away from that you go, the less likely you are to get anything.

― nabisco, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:03 (eighteen years ago)

Sorry, that was an xpost.

― nabisco, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:03 (eighteen years ago)

yeah i didnt realize there were even debt issues

i know its a cliche but its really fucking pathetic that it could be like that here, good luck kk

― deeznuts, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:06 (eighteen years ago)

i hope this doesn't sound ridiculous, but has your friend considered contacting local news tv? not to be crass, but i would think that someone in a late stage of cancer who has been denied gov't assistance and is unable to get treatment would be the kind of thing that "5 on your side" or suchlike would eat up.

― lauren, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:07 (eighteen years ago)

lots of companies offer insurance coverage for same or opposite-sex life partners, and don't require very much proof. i used to do this, and they didn't even ask for proof that we shared the same address. other than that, there may be some kind of professional organization that she could get coverage through, such as freelancer's union? it will be really difficult to get private coverage if she is very ill already.

― bell_labs, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:12 (eighteen years ago)

and good luck. terrible situation.

― bell_labs, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:13 (eighteen years ago)

I think it would be difficult to get insurance through an employer when already ill as well. "Pre-existing conditions" and all. . .

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:14 (eighteen years ago)

group insurance policies don't require you disclose that!

― bell_labs, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:17 (eighteen years ago)

You often have to wait a period before you can be treated for something you've been treated for before (prior to that insurance).

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:21 (eighteen years ago)

I would also bet that cancer non-profits, charities, and advocacy groups would have loads of information on how to get treatment, or even counselors to help with exactly this sort of situation. And she shouldn't totally despair here: there are plenty of research trials and clinics specially endowed to treat people who can't afford it. There's a whole charitable machinery out there to make this easier, and if nothing else, she can be glad she's probably equipped with the skills to interface with it.

People who don't like government tackling these problems always say citizens can sort out their own charity -- when it comes to cancer treatment, lots of them have. This is what it's for, so here's hoping she can take advantage.

― nabisco, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:32 (eighteen years ago)

Here is the New York State insurance site: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/chealth.htm. There's a link on it for the seriously ill and their caregivers. Maybe something there can be useful.

Good luck to your friend King Kitty.

― Jaq, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 20:12 (eighteen years ago)

Good luck to your friend.
This really is fucked up though. Healthcare should be free to everyone.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 20:14 (eighteen years ago)

group insurance policies don't require you disclose that!

Most do have exclusions and small print to wriggle out of paying - insurance companies are not charities, they are businesses, and if they can wriggle out of paying something, they will (I used to work for one of the biggest, I know this all too well). No insurance company is going to offer a policy that is open to abuse by any uninsured ill person who lies their way into a job with insurance to utilise it.

Sorry if that sounds heartless - there is a lot of good advice on this thread, but I wouldn't rely on that one.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 20:19 (eighteen years ago)

A (now dead) friend of mine had this happen to him, and we threw a huge house party ("TumorLounge") which raised over 40 grand for him. People are happy to pay high ticket prices for such an event. 40 grand won't cover all the medical bills you'll get while getting treated for cancer, but it helps, or you can get state health care to cover your medical bills and have someone else use the fundraiser funds to pay living expenses, etc.

It is fucking shameful that we do not have national health insurance.

― schwantz, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 21:11 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, we talked about a fundraiser to. It's a great idea. To bad we're all poor! I'll only invite the rich people I know (or don't). And I'll make sure she looks extra sickly that night. Thanks lauren, i'll check that out when I get home. nabisco's otm to. Clinical trials seem to be her best bet, but we're worried it might be dangerous. The problem also is finding a trial that's aimed at her particular cancer/phase/age group/etc.. but I'm still looking. She's not in despair (she's not that kinda girl), just a little scared. I assumed that there is some kind of social safety net, but lots of people fall through the cracks in this town. And while none of us are interested in tricking the system, I suppose she could marry someone. But that totally sucks.

― King Kitty, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 21:15 (eighteen years ago)

i will ask my mother, a pro at this sort of thing (she survived Stage 4 ovarian cancer). also has worked in the medical field for a bit.

meanwhile, my thoughts are with your friend and you, mr kitty.

― the table is the table, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

thanks. that's very sweet. all of you. i really appreciate the help.

― King Kitty, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 21:46 (eighteen years ago)

im sorry for my remarkable ignorance here but do they actually make those without insurance pay for every cent of their treatment?? for some reason i was under the impression hospitals or the state or whatever would actually foot the majority of the bill if needed

after asking the moms and checking around a bit, it seems like if your friend simply goes to a public hospital (like New York Presbyterian or NYU, perhaps), she will be able to be treated and will be charged only a nominal fee, especially if she truly is indigent. we have a friend who has had similar problems, and this is the case with her.

also, a person going into the e-room MUST be treated, and can often be covered by the hospital or the state, esp. in cases such as this.

― the table is the table, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 00:19 (eighteen years ago)

'public hospital' isn't the right term there, sorry. yknow what i mean.

― the table is the table, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 00:19 (eighteen years ago)

thanks t.t.i.t.t., that's awesome about your mom! I've passed on everyone's advice down the grapevine. I think we might have an big auction or something. Any loacls on the board are invited! We'll have booze and dress Sandra up like Queen Carlotta!

x-post
I missed the "Tumorlounge" part the first time through, sorry. that was really funny. I totz lol. would you be offended if I copied your idea? We've got access to a big empty gallery in SoHo and everyone's a DJ. Come by if your in town! 10$ at the door.

― King Kitty, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 01:30 (eighteen years ago)

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